Aadhar card doesn’t have date of birth #wtfnews #joke

NAGPUR: The unique identification number (UID), renamed as Aadhar, was supposed to be one of the documents to eliminate submission of multiple papers for identification but due to absence of date of birth on Aadhar, people may find it difficult to access government and non-government services assuming it to be a sole document.Aadhar is an initiative of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIAI) of the government to create a unique ID for every Indian resident but people are being asked for additional documents as age proof.

The government has assured that Aadhar will help individual to access services like banking, mobile phone connections and other services.

“All assurances gave an impression that by using Aadhar card one will not need to carry multiple documents for availing service benefits and limitations of other cards issued earlier will be done away with. But it is not true,” says Avinash Prabhune, a consumer rights activist.

Prabhune says Aadhar cards do not mention date of birth although documentary evidence was submitted at the time of enrolment. The cards indicate only year of birth, therefore this card is not helping as age proof in banks and other places.

However, Aadhar is acceptable by the railways and MSRTC. Central Railway public relations officer (PRO) P D Patil said Aadhar card is acceptable for providing concession in fares to senior citizens.

“Even MSRTC is accepting Aadhar as a document to provide concession in fare. We calculate the age based on the year mentioned on the card,” an ST official said.

However, even if railways and MSRTC accept Aadhar, banks have been demanding additional documents. “As per the RBI guidelines we have been introducing the central banking system ( CBS) which needs other documents too. A new account cannot be opened only on the basis of Aadhar. We demand pan card as age proof,” said branch manager of a nationalized bank, seeking anonymity.

Till now more than Rs 2,000 crores have been spent on the UID scheme and 23 crore residents have been enrolled so far but none of these cards bear the date of birth.

“Recording birth date on Aadhar card could sort out problems. I strongly support the scheme as after its integration with other systems, it may be possible that UID data will be shared but till that time multiple papers will be required for vital transactions,” says Vinayak Prabhune, a retired government official.

Prabhune wrote to UIDAI officials twice to mention the date of birth on Aadhar cards but they did not reply. He says as a large population does not known their date of birth, only year is recorded but it should be mentioned on the cards of those who know their date of birth.